2026-01-01
Puzzle guide
Full breakdown using the Solver walkthrough format — patch placements, tiling analysis, and strategy notes.
Overview
Patches Level 1 is part of our exclusive Patches level track. Patches is LinkedIn's tiling puzzle: partition a 4×4 grid into non-overlapping rectangles — one per clue — matching area and shape hints until every cell is covered. This page includes the live board, a solved-board view, and a step-by-step Solution walkthrough. Difficulty: Easy. Estimated solve time: 3–5 min.
Answer
This board has 6 clues on a 4×4 grid — each maps to one non-overlapping patch.
6 rectangles tile the 4×4 grid (16 cells): clue 1 → 4×1, clue 2 → 3×2, clue 3 → 2×1, clue 4 → 1×1, clue 5 → 1×1, clue 6 → 1×2. No overlap, every clue covered exactly once.
Analysis
I solve Patches Level 1 patch by patch on a 4×4 grid. 6 clues to satisfy, 6 with numbered areas. My tiling order: clue 1 (4×1) → clue 2 (3×2) → clue 3 (2×1) → clue 4 (1×1) → clue 5 (1×1) → clue 6 (1×2). I draw the tightest rectangles first and check that the remaining space can still partition cleanly before committing each shape.
Before the first drag I scan for the largest area clues and strict shape icons — on this board that means One or more clues demand large rectangles — lock those anchors first because they consume the most territory and constrain where every smaller patch can fit.
General Patches strategy on 4×4: rectangles cannot overlap, every cell must belong to exactly one patch, and each patch must contain precisely one clue at its anchor cell. When a clue shows area 12 and a tall icon, only a few height×width pairs are legal — list them before drawing. After each placement, mentally partition the leftover white space: if any region cannot host its remaining clues, back up and try the next candidate.
I draw patch 1 next — 4×1 at Row 3, column 1. The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (4×1 = 4). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide). After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 12 cells remain for 5 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 2 next — 3×2 at Row 1, column 2. The clue shows area 6, so this patch must cover exactly 6 cells (3×2 = 6). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide). After placing this 6-cell rectangle, 6 cells remain for 4 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 3 next — 2×1 at Row 1, column 4. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (2×1 = 2). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide). After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 4 cells remain for 3 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 4 next — 1×1 at Row 3, column 4. The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). The shape icon requires a square. After placing this 1-cell rectangle, 3 cells remain for 2 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 5 next — 1×1 at Row 4, column 2. The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). The shape icon requires a square. After placing this 1-cell rectangle, 2 cells remain for 1 clue. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
I draw patch 6 next — 1×2 at Row 4, column 4. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (1×2 = 2). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall). This 2-cell patch completes the grid — all 16 cells are now assigned to exactly one clue.
Done — every cell colored, no overlaps, all clues satisfied. One or more clues demand large rectangles — lock those anchors first because they consume the most territory and constrain where every smaller patch can fit.
Patches
Shape & area
The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (4×1 = 4). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide).
After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 12 cells remain for 5 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
First patch: After placing this 4-cell rectangle, 12 cells remain for 5 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 6, so this patch must cover exactly 6 cells (3×2 = 6). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide).
After placing this 6-cell rectangle, 6 cells remain for 4 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Second patch: After placing this 6-cell rectangle, 6 cells remain for 4 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (2×1 = 2). The shape icon requires a tall rectangle (taller than wide).
After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 4 cells remain for 3 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Third patch: After placing this 2-cell rectangle, 4 cells remain for 3 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). The shape icon requires a square.
After placing this 1-cell rectangle, 3 cells remain for 2 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Fourth patch: After placing this 1-cell rectangle, 3 cells remain for 2 clues. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). The shape icon requires a square.
After placing this 1-cell rectangle, 2 cells remain for 1 clue. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Solving note
Fifth patch: After placing this 1-cell rectangle, 2 cells remain for 1 clue. Each leftover region must still tile without overlap.
Shape & area
The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (1×2 = 2). The shape icon requires a wide rectangle (wider than tall).
This 2-cell patch completes the grid — all 16 cells are now assigned to exactly one clue.
Solving note
Sixth patch: This 2-cell patch completes the grid — all 16 cells are now assigned to exactly one clue.
Verification
I trust this tiling because every patch I placed was the only rectangle that still allowed the whole grid to complete. Wrong sizes would either break area math, violate a shape icon, or trap remaining clues in untileable gaps.
Solve path
Phase 1: Partition the 4×4 grid into 6 non-overlapping rectangles — one per clue, matching area and shape hints. Patch 1: draw 4×1 at Row 1, column 1 for the clue at Row 3, column 1. The clue shows area 4, so this patch must cover exactly 4 cells (4×1 = 4). Patch 2: draw 3×2 at Row 1, column 2 for the clue at Row 1, column 2. The clue shows area 6, so this patch must cover exactly 6 cells (3×2 = 6). Patch 3: draw 2×1 at Row 1, column 4 for the clue at Row 1, column 4. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (2×1 = 2). Patch 4: draw 1×1 at Row 3, column 4 for the clue at Row 3, column 4. The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). Patch 5: draw 1×1 at Row 4, column 2 for the clue at Row 4, column 2. The clue shows area 1, so this patch must cover exactly 1 cells (1×1 = 1). Patch 6: draw 1×2 at Row 4, column 3 for the clue at Row 4, column 4. The clue shows area 2, so this patch must cover exactly 2 cells (1×2 = 2). Complete: 16 cells covered, 6 valid patches — full tiling verified.
Pattern
One or more clues demand large rectangles — lock those anchors first because they consume the most territory and constrain where every smaller patch can fit.
Learn more in Patches Puzzle Strategies →Takeaways
Patch order clue 1 (4×1) → clue 2 (3×2) → clue 3 (2×1) → clue 4 (1×1) → clue 5 (1×1) → clue 6 (1×2) matched how free space shrank — largest anchors first, then filling narrow gaps around them.
Drawing a rectangle that contains zero or two clues invalidates the patch immediately — always verify the clue cell sits inside and alone.
Retry Patches Level 1 using only one hint. You should lock the first forced patch within a minute if you scan area 6 anchors first.
Solution
This 4×4 board has 6 clues, 6 of which specify a required area. Shape hints include tall, square, wide proportions. 6 rectangles tile the 4×4 grid (16 cells): clue 1 → 4×1, clue 2 → 3×2, clue 3 → 2×1, clue 4 → 1×1, clue 5 → 1×1, clue 6 → 1×2. No overlap, every clue covered exactly once. One or more clues demand large rectangles — lock those anchors first because they consume the most territory and constrain where every smaller patch can fit. Use the Solution tab for a patch-by-patch reveal with live board updates, or the Solved board tab for the complete tiling.